For the second fight in a row, Melvin Guillard has failed to make weight, and as a result, the veteran will no longer challenge Justin Gaethje for the WSOF lightweight title tomorrow night.

Guillard came in at 158.8 on his first attempt this afternoon in Tampa, Florida, and on his second try, the fighter weighed 158.6 according to a report from MMA Fighting.com). As a result, his bout with Gaethje has been changed to a 159 pound, non-title catchweight fight. Guillard reportedly will also be hit with a fine that’s 50% of his purse.

Here are the weigh-in results for WSOF 15, which will feature middleweight champ David Branch taking on Yushin Okami, and strawweight champion Jessica Aguilar taking on Kalindra Faria.

The event will be hosted by the USF Sun Dome and the main card will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.

Melvin Guillard is scheduled to fight WSOF lightweight champ Justin Gaethje tomorrow night, but unless the UFC vet sheds several more pounds, the bout will be a non-title affair.

According to a tweet from the promotion, Guillard came in at 158.8 pounds for the bout with Gaethje, who weighed in at 154.8. Guillard, who missed weight when he fought and stopped “JZ” Cavalcante in July, has two hours to cut down to 155.

WSOF 15 will be hosted by the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.

Stay tuned to Full Contact Fighter for the event’s complete weigh-in results.

Not only will WSOF 11 today feature lightweight champion Justin Gaethje taking on Nick Newell, but Melvin Guillard will battle “JZ” Cavalcante, in what should determine the division’s #1 contender.

While Cavalcante understands the importance of the bout, the rugged vet recently told MMA Fighting.com that securing a title shot hasn’t been what’s driving him:

“My motivation is the fight, not a title shot,” said Cavalcante. “I see every fight as a title for me now. I was supposed to fight for the title after my last fight but I got injured. We never know what might happen, so I’m only focused on this fight.”

The 31 year-old went on to add that he hopes to fight the “best” Guillard possible, and noted that the UFC vet has a “big name” and that the bout is a “good opportunity.”

Cavalcante is coming off third round stoppage win over Tyson Griffin at WSOF 4 last August.

Guillard, who came in overweight for tonight’s fight, will be making his promotional debut.

The main card for WSOF 11 will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network.

World Series of Fighting has confirmed the main card match-ups for its upcoming, eleventh event, which will take place July 5th in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The card will be hosted by the city’s Ocean Center and it will be broadcast on NBC.

As reported previously, the event will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between champion Justin Gaethje (11-0) and challenger Nick Newell (11-0). In addition, it will feature a rubber match between welterweight vets Jon Fitch (25-6-1) and Josh Burkman (27-10).

Rounding out the main card will be a lightweight fight between Melvin Guillard (31-13-2) and “JZ” Cavalcante (18-7-1), and a bantamweight scrap between Cody Bollinger (15-2) and Pablo Alfonso (9-5).

The event will mark the first time the WSOF has aired live on the primary NBC network.

Fitch was originally set to face Palhares at WSOF 11, however, the newly crowned welterweight champ has withdraw so he can attend to his ill mother.

Shields (29-7-1) will be competing for the first time since he was decisioned by Hector Lombard at UFC 171, while Fitch (25-6-1) is coming off a split decision win over Marcelo Alfaya at WSOF 6 in October.

WSOF has also announced that Melvin Guillard will make his promotional debut versus “JZ” Cavalcante on July 5th.

Guillard (31-13-2) was let go by the UFC following his UD loss to Michael Johnson in March.

Cavalcante (18-7-1) hasn’t fought since WSOF 4 last August, when he stopped Tyson Griffin in the third round.

Guillard’s (31-13-2) first opponent with WSOF has yet to be announced.

The American Top Team fighter spent nine years with the UFC, after competing on the second season of TUF. In 2010 and 2011 Guillard put together a five fight winning streak, before getting submitted by Joe Lauzon at UFC 136.

After holding down a UFC roster spot for approximately nine years, Melvin Guillard apparently isn’t upset about the promotion’s decision to release him. Guillard was let go by the UFC recently, after his unanimous decision to Michael Johnson… Read More

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Melvin Guillard

By FCF Staff

After holding down a UFC roster spot for approximately nine years, Melvin Guillard apparently isn’t upset about the promotion’s decision to release him. Guillard was let go by the UFC recently, after his unanimous decision to Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 37 on March 8th,

The 30 year-old lightweight appeared on the recent edition of “The MMA Hour“, and here is some of what he had to say about the UFC’s decision to cut him.

“I was happy,” Guillard said. “I gave the UFC nine years. I gave them a good nine years. Honestly I gave them one bad performance, which was the London fight (against Johnson). I had two busted ribs, a busted hand in the first round, but I didn’t make any excuses in the fight. I stayed in there, I fought. I could’ve been like most fighters and just threw in the towel when I got up off the seat, but I was fighting injured.”

The noted finisher also argued that “another company is going to pay me, probably, way more” than the UFC. While Guillard relayed that he still has “love” for the likes of UFC execs like Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Joe Silva, he’s excited to test the open market.

The defeat to Johnson left Guillard’s record at 1-3, with 1 no contest in his last five contests.

After losing by unanimous decision to Michael Johnson earlier this month, and winning just one fight in his last five contests, Melvin Guillard has reportedly been released by the UFC.

News of Guillard’s release, who made his Octagon debut way back in 2005, is being reported by MMA Fighting.com. The outlet is citing Guillard’s manager, Malki Kawa, as the source.

The fighter, however, has yet to make a statement regarding the reported release.

Guillard entered the UFC via the second season of TUF, and during his run with the promotion he scored memorable wins over vets like Dennis Siver, Evan Dunham, Shane Roller, and Mac Danzig, among others.

UFC President Dana White was critical of Guillard’s recent performance versus Johnson, and argued the powerful fighter was far too passive during the March 8th bout.

Since 2011, the 30 year-old Guillard (31-13-2) has gone 2-4 with 1 no contest.

Alexander Gustafsson did his part to lock up a rematch with light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones today, as the #1 contender stopped Jimi Manuwa in the second round at UFC FN 37.

Gustafsson took the heavy handed Manuwa to the ground not long into the main event, but the latter did a good job of maintaining half guard and took very little damage.

After the fight was briefly brought to a halt in round two, due to an accidental eye poke on Manuwa, Gustafsson stunned the British fighter with a thumping knee from the clinch. A few more follow up punches sent Manuwa crashing to the mat, and the fight was stopped seconds later.

Following the bout the Swedish star proceeded to call out Jones, who is set to fight Glover Teixeira on April 26th. If Jones defends his title next month, the promotion has already committed to a Jones-Gustafsson rematch. Jones narrowly defeated Gustafsson by decision at UFC 165 in September.

Here are the results from UFC FN 37, which was hosted by London’s O2 Arena.